US President Donald Trump announced the extension of the truce between Israel and Lebanon for an additional three weeks following talks with representatives from both countries, Ukrinform reported.
On Thursday, in a post on Truth Social, Trump said senior Israeli and Lebanese representatives met in the Oval Office alongside Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, and US Ambassador to Lebanon Michelle Issa.
“The meeting went very well,” Trump said, adding that the US would continue working with Lebanon to help defend itself against Hezbollah.
Trump said he looked forward to meeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun in the near future, describing the talks as a “very historic meeting.”
The initial truce was announced earlier this month as Washington sought to prevent further escalation and reduce the risk of a wider regional conflict. The announcement followed the first direct talks between Israel and Lebanon in more than three decades.
Prior to this, Trump also extended a ceasefire with Iran to allow more time for talks, saying Tehran was “collapsing financially” due to the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy route.
The request was made by Pakistani mediators and to provide Iran’s leadership time to form a proper proposal.
According to Ukrinform, the second round of direct talks between Israel and Lebanon was scheduled for Thursday, in Washington.